America Declares Independence
eBook - ePub

America Declares Independence

  1. 208 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

America Declares Independence

About this book

The Declaration of Independence as you've never seen it before Some of us cherish it with near-scriptural reverence. Others simply take it for granted. In this contentious new look at the Declaration of Independence, however, celebrated attorney Alan Dershowitz takes "America's birth certificate" and its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, to task. Dershowitz searches for the sources, history, and underlying reasoning that produced the Declaration and its particular language, from its reference to the "Laws of Nature and Nature's God" through the long list of complaints against the abuses of King George III. He points out contradictions within the document, notes how the meanings of Jefferson's words have changed over the centuries, and asks many disturbing questions, including:

  • Where do rights come from?
  • Do we have "unalienable rights"?
  • Do rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" have any meaning?
  • How could slaveowners claim to believe that "all men are created equal"?
  • Is the God of the Declaration the God of the Bible?
  • Does the Declaration establish a Christian State?
  • Are there "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God"?

Challenging, upsetting, and controversial, this brilliant polemic may anger you, delight you, or force you to reexamine your opinions. One thing's for sure: after reading America Declares Independence, you'll never take the Declaration of Independence for granted again.

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Yes, you can access America Declares Independence by Alan Dershowitz in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & Early American History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Information

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Introduction
  7. 1. Who Is the God of the Declaration?
  8. 2. What Are “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”?
  9. 3. How Can Jefferson’s Views of Equality and Slavery Be Reconciled?
  10. Conclusion
  11. Appendix: The Declaration of Independence
  12. Notes
  13. Index